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In the introduction of "Art in Good Faith," I mention the book, "Talk Like Ted," by Carmine Gallo in which he writes, “Asking yourself, ‘What’s my product?’ isn’t nearly as effective as asking yourself, ‘What business am I really in? What am I truly passionate about?’” When I thought about what I was passionate about in this work, I realized that:

Sidenote. ​
Recently, I was asking Chat GPT the difference in function between educational institutions and research institutions. One of the things it said about research institutions is that they exist to investigate questions around a particular topic. I found that helpful in framing KAI. Over the last couple of newsletters, you’ve read me fleshing out the question(s) KAI exists to dig into:

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Back to Freedom. ​
That is the question we’re digging into here. But the thing I’m passionate about in this work is artists being free and living out that freedom in God without apology.

The other night, I couldn’t sleep and I was up thinking about this freedom. In Christ, we have been made free. In Him, we are free. There are things we’ve been freed from, things we’ve been freed to be and become, and things we’ve been liberated into.

That is a reality for us right now. But there is a gap between being made free and owning that freedom. Between being made free and knowing how to walk like a free person. Between being free and staying free. And we contend with this gap in the belief part of our faith, and in the application and embodiment of what we believe in different areas of our lives, like our art lives.

To own and embody that freedom, there are things we have to work out. Some questions we have to answer. There are things we have to wrestle with, reconcile, reorient, and renew our minds to.

One of those questions we each have to answer is, Who is the God you think you’re in relationship with? I am continually amazed by the profound ways our individual answers to this question shape our experience and affect our confidence on this faith-art journey.

So, who do you believe you’re in relationship with? And what does He think about you, the artist? What does He think about what you’re doing? About the art you’re making? What does He think about where you’re making art, and who you’re associating with in your creative and career activities?

Because if you don’t believe He approves of the artist you are, if you don’t have confidence that He approves of the choices you’re making, it’s going to be very hard for you to think that He would be willing to help you. That He would take interest in the concerns and desires of your creative heart. Which means you won’t go to Him. You’ll hesitate to invite Him into what you’re doing and making. You’ll struggle to trust Him and, thus, follow His leading.

Who is the God you think you’re in relationship with? Is He the God of all wisdom? Is He the God who gave you this incredible gift? Is He the one who that gave you the creative vision you’re pursuing? Or are you pursuing a vision authored by someone else? You’re answer to that makes a difference.

Is He the God that can give you the vision, but doesn’t have the capacity or the knowledge to help you get into the fullness of it? Do you think that God is able to successfully lead you in all the steps, tasks, and responsibilities you need to handle to build and further your career? In contract negotiations? In building a platform? In determining the right advice to take for your career ambitions?

Are you in relationship with a God who gave you this creative gift, but can’t see its full potential? Or who doesn’t know or care what’s in the depths of your heart?
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Why Does This Matter? ​
As I was planning this month’s newsletter, I got a little nervous because I felt like I’ve posed this question to you a million times already. If I have, sorry. But really, not sorry. Because I can guarantee I’ll do it some more. I have found it to be that important. It’s one of those quintessential questions that connect to a lot of different things.

Galatians 5:25 (NLT) says, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” But let’s be honest. No matter how much we may want to do this, if we are unsure of His intentions, if we don’t feel secure about His ability, we most likely won’t do this. So this question matters. Or rather, what matters is our willingness to answer the question honestly and then surrender our misconceptions and assumptions as God shows us who He truly is.

And here’s where this connects to the freedom: the freedom is found in His way. His way creates the freedom. Doing things His way is what empowers me to move and walk freely. So if I struggle to follow His way because I’m unsure of who He is or what He’s able to do, then I can’t take ownership of that freedom, even though it’s mine and I’m already free. But I can’t move freely.

Let me make this more practical.

If I know that God planted me in the marketplace to honor Him as I build my career, I can move freely (whether you agree with me being there or not).

If I know that my faith and art are partners, not competing priorities, I can move freely.

If I know that I am free to just show up and be who I am in a space, (not have to perform who I am to prove anything), I can move freely.

If I don’t have to rely on you for my livelihood because I know the Lord is my provider and will always bring, or lead me to His provision, I can move freely. I don’t have to stay in bad situations just to keep a paycheck.

If I don’t have to rely on you for my access to opportunities because the Lord surrounds me with favor, my gift makes room for, and He goes before me, I can move freely.

If I know that you don’t have the authority to keep me out of what God says is mine, I can move freely. You may be able to delay it, obstruct it, take it temporarily, but ultimately if the Lord is leading me and He is my victory banner, you cannot keep it from me.

If I know that I am in His will in this creative life, I can move freely because I know that when I ask anything according to His will, He hears me and grants me what I’ve asked Him for (1 John 5:14-15: I love the Amplified).

I can go on and on and on with this.

When we understand who we’re in relationship with (not our assumptions or misconceptions about who He is, but who He really is) we also find the freedom to trust Him and follow Him, which only leads us into more freedom in our creative lives.

Think about that. What does that kind of freedom empower you to do?

I can be the artist I really want to be. I can follow those creative ideas I have, whether the market says it’s viable or not because God gave me the idea and where He guides, He provides. I can hold my principles in building my career. I don’t have to compromise in certain ways because you say it’s the only way to move my career forward. You didn’t give me this gift or vision, and you are not my guide. He is!

Following God in our careers because we understand who He really is liberates us to move that freely! Now, I’m an artist just like you are. I understand this is simple logistically and can be oh so difficult emotionally and mentally. God tells you say no to a project. Logistically, that’s simple. Just decline the project. Emotionally, however, mentally, I’m thinking I haven’t worked in a long time. Working with this director would do so much for my career right now. My agent is telling me that if I don’t take this job, blah, blah. Right? God tells you to go into that gallery and ask the director something. That’s simple. Just enter the building and ask a question. But emotionally, mentally, you’re thinking, that’s crazy. That’s not how you do things. What are they gonna think about me. Why would they take me? They only work with these kinds of artists.

I get it. I consistently have to check myself about this. There are times when things will come up or I’ll encounter a situation and my initial response makes me have to check myself. Wait, Marlita. If you believe God is your provider, why are you tripping about this? If the Lord is your guide, why are you anxious about this?

Alright, I’m done. You get my drift. And be ready because I’m sure I’ll bring this up again and apply it to something else. It’s good to see it over and over again.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! And how you’re doing. In the meantime, be blessed and take ownership of that freedom.

Talk soon. Marlita

Updates: I had to postpone my Africa trip. I bought my ticket for a month (1 week in Kenya and 3 weeks in Uganda). Then the Ebola outbreak happened in the DR Congo and crept over the Ugandan border so we thought it wise to just cancel the Uganda part of my trip. When I went to change my ticket for an earlier return home, it was going to be an additional $2000 to make that change. So, I did not go at all, because…yeah. The blessing is that I got a travel credit for the full amount, and we are in talks and prayer about when I will travel there at a later date.